PHY3067 Energy and the Environment 2023-24
Mr T.A. Mitchell, Dr D. Lash, Mr A. Rowson and Mr A.D.S. Norton
 
Delivery Weeks: T2:01-11
Level: 6 (NQF)
Credits: 15 NICATS / 7.5 ECTS
Enrolment: 84 students (approx)

Description

Students will work individually and in groups in order to engage with the technical, economic and social issues arising from energy-use and environmental change. They will study these in sufficient depth to allow them to make informed and quantitative judgements about proposals to ameliorate environmental damage by policy and other changes. They also have the opportunity to exercise these skills by examining a 'real world' issue as the topic of a group research-project and report.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the interdisciplinary issues surrounding energy use and environmental change. Energy is mainly derived from fossil fuels; there are two problems with this energy source. The first is that it is finite, and so in the future we must move to sustainable energy sources. Secondly, fossil fuels pollute the environment on both a local and a global scale.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

A student who has passed this module should be able to:

Syllabus Plan

  1. Lectures
    1. Energy – an Introduction
    2. Fossil Fuels
    3. Climate Change
    4. Economics
    5. Nuclear Power
    6. Energy from Wind and Water
    7. Solar Energy and Photovoltaics
    8. Heat 1
    9. Heat 2
    10. Future Technologies
    11. Transport Sector
    12. Industrial Sector
    13. Energy in Buildings
    14. Industrial and Commercial
    15. Adaptation, Mitigation and Policy
  2. Tutorials
    1. Data Precision and Accuracy
    2. Group Roles
    3. Project Management Tools
    4. Report Writing and Referencing
    5. Group Project Mentoring 1
    6. Data vs Information
    7. Group Project Mentoring 2
    8. Data Processing and Visualisation
    9. Group Project Mentoring 3
    10. Presentation Skills
    11. Student Presentations 1
    12. Student Presentations 2
  3. Group Project
    Working in groups of about six, students will analyse and compare alternative approaches to a problem; possible topics include, for example, "Assessing the potential for a renewable Crediton", "A quantified strategy for zero carbon University of Exeter campuses", etc. A group will produce a report and present its findings to the rest of the class at the end of the module. Refer to the Learning and Teaching section for further details. Sharp's Method will be used to assign individual marks within each group.

Learning and Teaching

Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Description Study time KIS type
15×1-hour lectures 15 hours SLT
12×1-hour tutorial sessions 12 hours SLT
4×8-hour worksheets (summative) 32 hours GIS
Main-project report 35 hours GIS
Reading, private study and revision 56 hours GIS

Assessment

Weight Form Size When ILOS assessed Feedback
50% Worksheets 4×8-hour Deadline weeks: T1:03, T1:05, T1:07, T1:09 1,2,4,6 Written
40% Group Project Report 5000 words Deadline week T1:11 1-6 Written and verbal
10% Group Presentation 15 minutes Week T1:11 1-5,7 Written and verbal

Resources

The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of information that students are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Instructor(s).

Core text:

Supplementary texts:

ELE:

Further Information

Prior Knowledge Requirements

Pre-requisite Modules Thermal Physics (PHY2023)
Co-requisite Modules none

Re-assessment

Re-assessment is not available except when required by referral or deferral.

Original form of assessment Form of re-assessment ILOs re-assessed Time scale for re-assessment
N/A N/A N/A N/A

Notes: Re-assessment is not available for this module.

KIS Data Summary

Learning activities and teaching methods
SLT - scheduled learning & teaching activities 27 hrs
GIS - guided independent study 123 hrs
PLS - placement/study abroad 0 hrs
Total 150 hrs
Summative assessment
Coursework 90%
Written exams 0%
Practical exams 10%
Total 100%

Miscellaneous

IoP Accreditation Checklist
  • Not applicable, this is an optional module.
Availability unrestricted
Distance learning NO
Keywords Physics; Energy; Fuel; Fossil; Issues; Conservation; Climate; Fossil fuels; Measures; Air quality; Pollution.
Created 22-Mar-23
Revised 21-Feb-22